Smooth operating cargo box

ABSTRACT

A smooth operating cargo box which is simply and easily assembled by first erecting the side panels on the box base by engaging outwardly opening end hooks extending along the bottom edges of the sides with inwardly opening side hooks extending along the side edges of the base, then erecting the back panel by sliding it in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the panel toward the rear of the container to engage outwardly open end hooks along the side and bottom edges of the back panel with inwardly directed side hooks extending along the rear edges of the base and side panels, then erecting the front panel by engaging an outwardly opening end hook extending along the bottom edge of the panel with an inwardly opening side hook extending along the front edge of the base and rotating the panel around its bottom edge from inside toward the outside of the container to engage inwardly opening end hooks along the side edges of the front with outwardly opening side hooks extending along the front edges of the sides, and finally sliding the top panel in the direction of its plane from the rear toward the front of the box to engage inwardly opening end hooks along the sides of the top with outwardly opening side hooks on the top edges of the sides and to engage an inwardly opening side hook along the back edge of the top with an outwardly opening end hook extending along the top edge of the back panel. Latches are provided for clamping the front edge of the top to the top edge of the front. An alarm system gives a signal in the event that an unauthorized person attempts either to open the container or to break through a panel thereof in an effort to gain access to the contents.

United States Patent [191 Luisada et al.

[ Dec. 10, 1974 SMOOTH OPERATING CARGO BOX [75] Inventors: August G.Luisada, Waymart, Pa.; Leonard P. Frieder, Sr., deceased, late ofWaverly, Pa. by Leonard P. Frieder, Jr., executor [73] Assignee: GentexCorporation, New York,

[22] Filed: Sept. 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 286,462

[52] US. Cl 220/1.5, 220/4 F [51] Int. Cl B65j 1/02 [58] Field of Search220/l.5, 4 F, 4 R; 217/43 R, 65

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,625,290 l/1953 Kice 220/4F 3,563,403 2/1971 Luisada 2Z0/l.5

3,575,312 4/1971 Luisada 220/l.5 3,589,547 6/1971 l-lambleton 220/l.5

3,655,087 4/1972 Luisada 220/l.5

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,018,243 H1966 Great Britain 220/4 F9,179 7/1900 Norway 217/65 1,418,651 12/1964 France 220/l.5 833,7787/1949 Germany 220/4 F Primary Examiner-William 1. Price AssistantExaminer-R. E. Hart 1 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Henry L. Shenier [57]ABSTRACT A smooth operating cargo box which is simply and easilyassembled by first erecting the side panels on the box base by engagingoutwardly opening end hooks extending along the bottom edges of thesides with inwardly opening side hooks extending along the side edges ofthe base, then erecting the back panel by sliding it in a directionperpendicular to the plane of the panel toward the rear of the containerto engage outwardly open end hooks along the side and bottom edges ofthe back panel with inwardly directed side hooks extending along therear edges of the base and side panels, then erecting the front panel byengaging an outwardly opening end hook extending along the bottom edgeof the panel with an inwardly opening side hook extending along thefront edge of the base and rotating the panel around its bottom edgefrom inside toward the outside of the container to engage inwardlyopening end hooks along the side edges of the front withoutwardly-opening side hooks extending along the front edges of thesides, and finally sliding the top panel in the direction of its planefrom the rear toward the front'of the box to engage inwardly opening endhooks along the sides of the top with outwardly opening side hooks onthe top edges of the sides and to engage an inwardly opening side hookalong the back edge of the top with an outwardly opening end hookextending along the top edge of the back panel. Latches are provided forclamping the front edge of the top to the top edge of the front. Analarm system gives a signal in the event that an unauthorized personattempts either to open the container or to break through a panelthereof in an effort to gain access to the contents.

8 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEL 55E 1 01914 I mm 50? s SMOOTHOPERATING CARGO BOX BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are known in theprior art boxes or containers which are especially adapted to receivearticles of cargo for shipment by aircraft. These containers must besufficiently strong to handle cargo having a relatively large aggregateweight. They must effectively withstand gravity loads from inside thecontainer to ward the outside thereof which are incident to operation ofthe aircraft. In addition to being sufficiently strong to meet theserequirements, they must be as light in weight as is possible. Containersof this type are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and consequentlyare not disposable. For this reason, the containers should be able to beknocked down so as to be shipped flat while being relatively readilyassembled at the location at which cargo is to be loaded. This,moreover, should be achieved with a minimum of manipulation and withoutthe use of separable auxiliary devices such as ropes and straps and thelike which may be misplaced or lost.

Containers of the general type described above are shown, for example,in Luisada and Frieder U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,403 for a Cargo Box, LuisadaUS. Pat. No. 3,575,312 for a Refrigerated Cargo Box and in theapplication of Luisada Ser. No. 6855, filed Jan. 29, 1970 for aLightweight Knockdown Container, now US. Pat. No. 3,655,087. The boxesor containers shown in the patents and application referred to allgenerally fulfil the requirements outlined above of being strong,lightweight and readily assembled and disassembled. We have invented asmooth operating cargo box which not only fulfills the requirementsoutlined above for aircraft cargo containers, but also is able to beerected and knocked down with a minimum of effort. Our smooth operatingcargo box is strong and lightweight. It is readily assembled anddisassembled for shipment in a stacked condition. Our container may beassembled and disassembled smoothly with a minimum of effort. It doesnot require separable ropes or straps or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of our invention is to provide asmooth operating cargo box which is strong and lightweight.

Another object of our invention is to provide a smooth operating cargobox which can be easily assembled and disassembled to permit the box tobe stored and shipped with the panels thereof stacked.

A further object of our invention is to provide a cargo box which can beerected smoothly with a minimum of effort.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a smooth operatingcargo box which is relatively simple in construction for the resultachieved thereby.

Other and further objects of our invention will ap pear from thefollowing description.

In general our invention contemplates the provision of a smoothoperating cargo box which is assembled by sliding the back panel thereofin a direction perpendicular to its plane along the base between thepreviously erected side panels, then erecting the front by rotating thefront panel around its bottom edge from inside toward the outside of thecontainer and finally sliding the top panel in the direction of theplane thereof from the rear toward the front of the container tocomplete the assembly. Latches are employed to hold the front edge ofthe top down on the upper edge of the front panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings whichform part of the instant specification and which are to be read inconjunction'therewith and in which like reference numerals are used toindicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of our smooth operating cargo box with thepanels thereof stacked for shipment.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of our smooth operating cargo boxtaken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of our smooth operating cargo boxtaken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of our smooth operating cargo boxtaken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of our smooth operating cargo boxtaken along the line 88 of FIG. 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of our smooth operating cargo boxtaken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of our smooth operating cargo box in thefirst stage of assembly thereof.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of our smooth operating cargo box in anintermediate further stage of assembly thereof.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of our smooth operating cargo box withparts broken away illustrating a further stage in the assembly thereof.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of our smooth operating cargo boxillustrating the final step of assembly thereof.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of one form of alarm circuit which may beused with our smooth operating cargo box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2of the drawings, our smooth operating cargo box, indicated generally bythe reference character 10, includes a base, indicated by the referencecharacter 12, which may, for example, be provided with skids 14 soarranged as to permit a fork' lift to raise the container. Container 10includes sides, indicated generally by the respective referencecharacters l6 and 18, a back, indicated generally by the referencecharacter 20, a front, indicated generally by the reference character 22and a top, indicated generally by the reference character 24. In thecondition of the box illustrated in FIG. 1 the various panels have beenseparated and stacked on top of the base 12. If desired,

any suitable means such as straps 25 or the like may be employed to holdthe stacked panels together.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 4, the base 12 includes a core 26 of anysuitable material which is light yet strong. It may, for example, beconstructed in the manner described in the patents and applicationreferred to hereinabove. Alternatively, it may be reinforced in themanner described in the copending application of Leonard P. Frieder,Ser. No. 1 13,366, filed Feb. 8, 1971, now abandoned, for a RigidLightweight Cargo Pallet. We provide a plurality of channels 28extending around the perimeter of the base 12. Channels 28 are formedwith inwardly opening side hooks 30. The channels 28 with the hooks 30may be formed in any suitable manner. For example, they may be made asaluminum extrusions. Each of the two side panels 16 and 18 includes acore 32 of any suitable material. For example, it may be made frompolystyrene foam and provided with suitable reinforcing members and withskins of aluminum sheeting, plastic or resin-impregnated glass fibers.Alternatively, as a filler, balsa wood blocks or urethane foam or anyother suitable material might be used. The cores, if formed from aplastic foam, may be made by foaming the plastic in place. Since thestructure of the panel cores per se does not form a part of ourinvention, it will not be discussed in further detail.

We provide a channel 34 running along the lower edge of each of thesides 16. Channel 34, which may be extruded from a suitable materialsuch, for example, as aluminum, is formed with an outwardly opening endhook 36. When the side panels are erected on the base in a manner to bedescribed, the end hooks 36 on the sides engage the side hooks 30 alongthe sideedges of the base 12. We place respective gaskets 38 and 40 inthe recesses formed by hooks 30 and 36 to form a seal between the baseand the sides.

Preferably we provide each of the side panels 16 and 18 with a pair ofspaced locking plates 42 at the lower edge thereof. Any suitable meanssuch, for example, as rivets 44 or the like, are employed to secure theplates 42 to the channels 34 along the lower edges of the sides. Theplates 42 are adapted to engage in grooves 46 formed in the basechannels 28 to hold the sides in position.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, we provide each of the sides 16 and 18with a channel 48 running along the rear edge thereof. Each channel 48is formed with an inwardly opening side hook 50.

The back panel includes a core 52 formed in a manner similar to that inwhich the core 32 is formed. We provide the back panel 20 withrespective channels 54 running along the side edges thereof. Eachchannel 54 is formed with an outwardly opening end hook 56 adapted tocooperate with one of the hooks 50 when the back panel is erected on thebase. We dispose respective gaskets 58 and 60 in the recesses formed bythe hooks 56 and 50.

We provide each of the side panels 16 and 18 with a pair of spaced snaplatches 62 located slightly inboard of the rear edges of the panels.Each of the latches 62 is received by a housing 64 in one of the sidepanels and is normally urged to an extended position by means of aspring 66. A tab 68 limits the movement of the latch out of the housing.When the back is erected in a manner to be described, it slides past thelatches 62. When the panel is in position the latches snap back toretain the back panel in position.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 7, we provide each of the side panels 16and 18 with a channel 70 running along the front edge thereof. Channel70 is formed with an outwardly opening side hook 72. The front panel 22includes a core 74 similar to that of the other panels of the box 10. Weprovided the front panel 22 with respective channels 76 running alongthe side edges thereof and formed with inwardly opening end hooks 78.When the front panel is erected in a manner to be described, the hooks78 cooperate with hooks 72. Gaskets 80 and 82 provide a seal along thefront side edges of the box. We mount respective pivoting latches 84 onpins 86 on the channels 76 at the inside of the front 22. After thefront has been erected the latches 84 are moved to positions at whichthey are located behind hooks 72 to retain the front in its erectedcondition.

We provide the bottom edge of each of the front and back panels with anoutwardly opening end hook similar to the hook 36 on side 16. Thesehooks on the front and back panels cooperate with hooks 30 along thefront and back edges of the base when the front and back panels areerected.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6, the top panel 24 includes a body 90similar to that of the other panels. We form a channel 92 extendingalong the rear edge of the top 24 with an inwardly opening side hook 94.A channel 96 extending along the top edge of the back panel 20 isprovided with an outwardly opening end hook 98 which cooperates withhook 94 when the top is assembled on the sides and back. Respectivegaskets 100 and 102 provide a sea] at this interconnection.

Referring now to FIGS. 2'and 8, a channel 104 running along the top edgeof each of the sides 16 and 18 is formed with an outwardly opening sidehook 106. We provide respective channels 108 extending along the sideedges of the top 24. lnwardly opening end hooks on the channels 108cooperate with hooks 106 on the sides 16 and 18 as the top is moved intoposition. Gaskets 112 and 114 provide seals at this connection.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 9 we provide a channel 116 extending alongthe front edge of the top panel 22. We form the channel 116 with adownwardly extended rounded flange 118. Respective slots 120 in thefront edge of the channel 116 are adapted to receive draw hooks in amanner to be described. We provide the front panel 22 with a channel 122extending along the top edge thereof. We provide the channel with arecess 124 adapted to receive the flange 118. Our box includesrespective toggle latch assemblies indicated generally by the referencecharacter 126 adapted to hold the top panel 24 down on the front panel22. Each assembly 126 includes a recessed base 128 carrying a pivot pin130 which supports the latch handle 132. A pin 134 on handle 132 carriesthe latch draw hook 136. As will be explained more fully hereinbelow,draw hooks 136 are adapted to engage slots 120 to hold the top panel 24in position.

We provide our cargo box with means for sounding an alarm when anunauthorized person attempts either to open the container or to gainaccess thereto by that a person cuts away or breaks a portion of thepanel. When the panels are assembled respective connectors 140 engage toprovide a plurality of series connected resistors 142 formed by theconductors 138 in the respective panels. We connect one terminal of theresistor 142 in the front panel 22, for example, to the base 144 of atransistor 146. We connect an alarm device 148 of any suitable typebetween the emitter 150 of transistor 146 and the female connectorportion of the panel 22. A battery 152 in the circuit of the collector154 of transistor 146 with the alarm 148 provides a source of power. Weconnect a resistor 156 having a resistance value which is relativelyhigh as compared with the aggregate of resistors 142 between thecollector and base of transistor 146. A key-operated switch 158 isadapted to be actuated to render the alarm system operative after thebox has been assembled. Normally the aggregate resistance of resistors142 acts as a shunt to prevent sufficient voltage from being applied tobase 144 to render the transistor conductive. However, if the shuntcircuit is broken at any point the tran-' sistor is rendered conductiveand the alarm 148 is activated. It will readily be appreciated that theintended consignee of the box is provided with a key for operatingswitch 158 to disable the alarm system before he opens the box.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 to 13, in assembling our box, the base 12first is laid on the skids 14. Next, the sides 16 and 18 are erected byengaging hooks 30 and 36. In the course of that operation plates 42engage in the grooves 46 to hold the sides erected. Next, the back panelis slid on its lower edge along the base 12 from the front toward theback of the box in the direction of the arrows A in FIG. 11 to cause theedges of the back to ride over the latches 62 until hooks 56 move intocooperative relationship with hooks 50 and the latches snap back intoplace to hold the back erected.

After the back and sides have been erected, the lower edge of the frontis inserted into the container to bring the hook 36 on the lower edge ofthe front panel 22 into cooperative relationship with the book 30 alongthe front edge of the base. Next, panel 22 is rotated in the directionof the arrow B in FIG. 12 to bring hooks 78 into engagement withhooks72. When that has been done, latches 84 are turned to positions atwhich they prevent the front panel 22 from falling out of the box.

Finally, to assemble the top panel 24 it is slid over the top of the boxby moving it from front to back thereof in the direction of the arrow Cin FIG. 13 to bring the hooks 110 at the sides of the top panel intocooperative relationship with the hooks 106 at the tops of the sidepanels. This movement continues until the hook 94 at the rear edge ofthe top cooperates with hook 98 at the top edge of the rear panel. Whenall the panels have thus been assembled in the manner described drawhooks 136 are inserted in the slots 120 and handles 132 are operated todraw thetop down onto the front panel. When the container is thus readyfor shipment, switch 158 is closed to activate the alarm circuit.

If an unauthorized person opens the box, one of the couplings 140 willbe disengaged and the alarm will sound. If an attempt is made to enterthe box by breaking through one of the panels the conductor 138 of thatpanel will be broken and the alarm will sound.

Upon arrival at its intended destination, the receiver first opensswitch 158 to de-activate the alarm. He next disassembles the box byreversing the procedure described above. The panels of the container canthen be stacked flat as shown in FIG. 1 for storage or for shipment backto the point of origin.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention.We have provided a cargo box which is lightweight and strong. Our boxcan be smoothly and easily assembled and disassembled with a minimum ofeffort. It is provided with an alarm for signalling an attempt by aperson either to open the box or to break through one of the panelsthereof.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed with out reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of ourclaims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scope of our claims without departing from the spiritof our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our inventionis not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim l. A smooth operatingcargo box including in combination a base, side panels, a back panel, afront panel and a top panel, first interengageable means running alongthe side edges of said base and along the bottom edges of the sidepanels for connecting said side panels to said base, secondinterengageable means along the bottom and side edges of the back paneland along the back edge of the base and back edges of the side panels,said second interengageable means comprising respective inwardly openingside hooks running along the back edges of said side panels andoutwardly opening end hooks running along the side edges of the backpanel, said second interengageable means being responsive to slidingmovement of the back panel from the inside toward the outside of saidbox in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the back panel to bringsaid end hooks into engagement with said side hooks to connect the backpanel to the base and side panels, third interengageable means along thebottom and side edges of the front panel and along the front of the baseand front edges of the side panels responsive to pivotal movement of thefront panel around its bottom edge in a direction from outside towardthe inside of said box for connecting said front panel to said base andinterengaging the front panel with the side panels, and fourthinterengageable means along the back and side edges of the top panel andalong the top edge of the back panel and top edges of the side panelsresponsive to sliding movement of said top panel in the direction of theplane thereof from back to front of said box for connecting said toppanel to said back and side panels.

2. A cargo box as in claim 1 in which said third interengageable meanscomprises outwardly opening side hooks running along the front edges ofthe side panels and inwardly opening end hooks running along the sideedges of the front panel.

3. A cargo box as in claim 1 in which said fourth interengageable meanscomprises outwardly opening side hooks running along the upper edges ofsaid side panels and inwardly opening end hooks running along the sideedges of said top panel.

4. A cargo box as in claim 3 in which said fourth interengageable meanscomprises an inwardly opening side hook running along the rear edge ofsaid top panel and an outwardly opening end hook running along the topedge of the back panel.

5. A cargo box as in claim 4 including a latch for securing the frontedge of the top panel to the top edge of the front panel.

6. A cargo box as in claim 1 in which said third interengageable meanscomprises outwardly opening side hooks running along the front edges ofthe side panels and inwardly opening end hooks running along the sideedges of the front panel and in which said fourth interengageable meanscomprises outwardly opening side edge of the front panel.

1. A smooth operating cargo box including in combination a base, side panels, a back panel, a front panel and a top panel, first interengageable means running along the side edges of said base and along the bottom edges of the side panels for connecting said side panels to said base, second interengageable means along the bottom and side edges of the back panel and along the back edge of the base and back edges of the side panels, said second interengageable means comprising respective inwardly opening side hooks running along the back edges of said side panels and outwardly opening end hooks running along the side edges of the back panel, said second interengageable means being responsive to sliding movement of the back panel from the inside toward the outside of said box in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the back panel to bring said end hooks into engagement with said side hooks to connect the back panel to the base and side panels, third interengageable means along the bottom and side edges of the front panel and along the front of the base and front edges of the side panels responsive to pivotal movement of the front panel around its bottom edge in a direction from outside toward the inside of said box for connecting said front panel to said base and interengaging the front panel with the side panels, and fourth interengageable means along the back and side edges of the top panel and along the top edge of the back panel and top edges of the side panels responsive to sliding movement of said top panel in the direction of the plane thereof from back to front of said box for connecting said top panel to said back and side panels.
 2. A cargo box as in claim 1 in which said third interengageable means comprises outwardly opening side hooks running along the front edges of the side panels and inwardly opening end hooks running along the side edges of the front panel.
 3. A cargo box as in claim 1 in which said fourth interengageable means comprises outwardly opening side hooks running along the upper edges of said side panels and inwardly opening end hooks running along the side edges of said top panel.
 4. A cargo box as in claim 3 in which said fourth interengageable means comprises an inwardly opening side hook running along the rear edge of said top panel and an outwardly opening end hook running along the top edge of the back panel.
 5. A cargo box as in claim 4 including a latch for securing the front edge of the top panel to the top edge of the front panel.
 6. A cargo box as in claim 1 in which said third interengageable means comprises outwardly opening side hooks running along the front edges of the side panels and inwardly opening end hooks running along the side edges of the front panel and in which said fourth interengageable means comprises outwardly opening side hooks running along the upper edges of the side panels and inwardly opening end hooks running along the side edges of said top panel.
 7. A cargo box as in claim 6 in which said fourth interengageable means comprises an inwardly opening side hook running along the rear edge of said top panel and an outwardly opening end hook running along the top edge of the back panel.
 8. A cargo box as in claim 7 including a latch for holding the front edge of the top panel down on the top edge of the front panel. 